PFC. ALVIN LEE BROWN

The first St. Francois County man killed in the Korean War according to newspaper reports from the time was Alvin Lee Brown of Flat River.

Brown was killed in action Aug. 9, 1950, near Waegwan, Korea. Pfc. Brown was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action when his platoon became pinned down by heavy enemy machine gun fire from well concealed positions.

According to the citation awarded to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Brown of Flat River, "Private Brown voluntarily and with complete disregard for his personal safety charged forward through a withering hail of fire in an effort to single-handedly destroy the enemy machine gun position with grenades.

"Although mortally wounded in this act of inspiring courage, Private Brown's action diverted the enemy's attention sufficiently to permit his comrades to reorganize and because he gallantly gave his life for his country, his platoon was enabled to continue their advance and secure their objective.

"Private Brown's gallant action reflects great credit upon himself and the military service," the citation stated.

The Silver Star was received by his father at a formation of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 140th Infantry commanded by Lt. Colonel Charles D. Parker. Members of Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 407th Infantry Regiment also attended the formation.

The presentation was made by Lt. Colonel Parker after remarks by Major Forrest W. Creamer, Organized Reserve Corps Instructor for Southeast Missouri.

Later Pfc. Brown was also awarded posthumously the Purple Heart.

Brown was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Brown of 405 High St., Flat River. He was born March 13, 1928 and was 22-year-old when he died in combat. He received his basic training at Camp Chaffee, Ark., after which he went to Camp Drake, Japan, where he spent 15 months with the occupational forces. He went from there to Korea on July j19 with the Seventh Regiment, of the First Calvary Division.

Brown's unit was in the thick of the fighting from the day they landed in Korea. Between July 18 and Nov. 11 they were decimated several times so that from the original 164 man complement, there were only five men left. A few days after Brown's death his unit was in one of the most vicious hand fights imaginable, but at the same time was typical of the area fighting. Unable to use their guns as it would give their position away, they allowed the "Reds" to overrun them and then used fists, rifle butts, bayonets, feet, and knives to kill 700 of the enemy.

Pfc. Brown's remains were returned to the United States and arrived in Bismarck on Sept. 13, 1951. He was buried in St. Francois Memorial Park with full military rites supplied by a Fort Leonard Wood detachment.

Published by THE DAILY JOURNAL, Park Hills, St. Francois Co. MO, Sept. 27, 2000.